A Guinea Pig’s History of Biology by Jim Endersby
[A brief(ish) history of which species of plants and animals were chosen (or were happened upon) by biologists for use in understanding natural selection, the discovery of genes and chromosomes, genetic engineering, and so on. Basically, which plants and animals have quick reproduction times, are easily manipulated through breeding and later by gene manipulation, or which have other unique characteristics (like the transparency of zebra fish) that make them conducive to study.
Along the way, brief biographies of some of the main players give an insight into how the field developed and the power plays and political intrigue that goes along with any “controversial” scientific study. It’s readable and entertaining, but I took too long to read it which made it seem a little scattered.
There is, however, a very good discussion of genetic engineering in the final chapter that’s worth publishing as an article in any magazine of general readership.
